Year 2020: Prisoners are permitted to receive gifts from relatives via postal service 2 times/month

Inmates Receiving Mail and Gifts, Circular 182/2019/TT-BQP

Under Article 4 of Circular 182/2019/TT-BQP, inmates are allowed to receive and send mail and gifts as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 52 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments. However, the gifts must not exceed 03 kg per meeting.

Additionally, inmates can receive gifts twice a month through postal services as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 52 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments, with each parcel not exceeding 03 kg, or up to 06 kg if sent once a month. If an inmate refuses to receive gifts from relatives or through postal services, a record must be made, and the sender must be notified to reclaim the item. Within 15 days from the notification date, if the item is not claimed, a record is made and the items are destroyed in the presence of the inmate. All mail and belongings delivered to the inmate must be thoroughly inspected before being allowed into the detention facility. If prohibited items are found, they must be handled according to regulations.

In cases where inmates have not met with relatives or received gifts for an extended period, the weight of gifts may be increased as decided by the head of the detention facility.

The circular allows inmates to send up to 02 letters per month. If any letter is found to contain inappropriate content affecting the inmate’s rehabilitation process, a record must be made, and the letter will not be sent.

For inmates who frequently violate the regulations of the detention facility and are held in solitary confinement or under disciplinary action, during the period they have not been acknowledged for progressive reformation, the head of the detention facility may restrict the receipt and sending of mail and gifts. The detention facility must notify the inmate’s relatives of any such restrictions.

The detention facility is responsible for guiding inmates to inform their relatives about the unit or group where the inmate is serving the sentence and the list of prohibited items that should not be sent to the inmate.

In the case of inmates who are being prosecuted, investigated, prosecuted, or tried for other crimes and are held in solitary confinement, the sending and receiving of mail and gifts are governed by the regulations of the Law on Temporary Detention and Custody.

For more regulations, see Circular 182/2019/TT-BQP, effective from January 22, 2020.

Thu Ba

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE